Cupola-charging device.



No. 783,049. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. O. R. KNAPP& V. MULHOLLAND. GUPOLA CHARGING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED EAR. 28, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W 4 mvEN ToRs. QM A fil H No. 783,049. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. O. R. KNAPP & V. MULHOLLAND.

GUPOLA CHARGING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. (52;: Q l

- UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT O EIoE.

CHARLES R. KNAPP, OF PITTSBURG, AND VERGIL MULHOLLAND, OF

ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO HEYL AND PATTER- SON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A COPARTNERSHIP OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

CUPOLA-CHARGING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,049, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed March 28, 1904. Serial No. 200,336.

To all whom, it natty concern:

'exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to a cupola or like furnace charging device, its object being to provide for the even distribution of the pigiron, coke, or scrap Within the cupola and to prevent the depositing of the materials in piles, which tends to retard the even melting of the materials and cause irregular working of the cupola.

To these ends our invention comprises, generally stated, in conjunction with a cupola having a peripheral opening therein, of a receptacle adapted to hold the material and means for swinging said receptacle in a horizontal plane to enter the opening in said receptacle and means for releasing the material from said receptacle while within said receptacle, all as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we would describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a cupola and our improved charging device illustrated. in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of same, the dotted lines indicating the diiferent positions of the parts.

Like numerals indicate like parts in each of the figures.

In the drawings the numeral 2 designates a suitable floor or platform supported at the proper height with reference to the cupola 3, said floor being preferably constructed of I- beams 1, properly braced and supported. The cupola 3 may be of any suitable construction for foundry or other purposes. As the construction of said cupola forms no part of our invention, further description of the same is deemed unnecessary, except to say that said cupola is provided with the peripheral slot or opening 3, extending approximately half-way around the wall of said cupola. Bolted to the floor 2 is the frame or housing 5. A vertical shaft 6 is mounted in the frame 5, said shaft being held immovable within said frame by the spline and groove 7 Mounted on the shaft 6 are the arms 8 and 9, the outer ends of said arms having the curved portions 10 and 11, respectively. The arms 8 and 9 are connected by the bolt 12, which is adapted to pass through the threaded nuts 13 and 14 of the arms 8 and 9, and said bolt is providedwith a hand-wheel 15, by means of which said bolt is operated to draw said arms toward each other, or vice versa, as the case may be. Below the arms 8 and 9 of the shaft 6 is the frame 16, said frame having at the outer end thereof the table or support 17 Secured to the journal 18 of the frame 16 is the segmental gear 19, which is engaged by the rackbar 20. This rack-bar 20 is secured to the piston-rod 21 of the steam, hydraulic, or other cylinder 22. This cylinder 22 is provided with the valve-chest 23 and pipes 24, leading to opposite ends of said cylinder, whereby steam or other motive power may be admitted to whichever end of the cylinder it is desired by means of the lever 25. The outer end of the rack-bar 2O rests upon the frictional roller 26.

Pivoted between the lugs 27 on the frame 5 is the swinging dog or detent 28, which is adapted to lock the arms 8 and 9, all as fully hereinafter set forth.

Below the line of the floor 2 is the pit or depression 29, within which is supported upon the angle-bars 30 the hydraulic cylinder 31. The plunger 32 of said cylinder carries the platform 33, said platform having a track 3 1 formed thereon. The trucks 35 are mounted on the wheels 36 and are adapted to be moved over the floor 2 onto the tracks 34 of the platform 33. This platform 33 is in such position with reference to the frame 5 that when the truck 35 is moved onto said platform the table 17 of the frame 16 will pass into the space between the axles 37 of the trucks 35 and the upper edges of said trucks. Support-- ed upon the truck isthe box or receptacle 38, which is preferably circular in form, said box having a movable bottom 39. The truck 35 is provided with the stops 40, which regulate the position of the bottom 39 upon said truck and prevent its displacement therefrom.

When our improved cupola-charging device is in use, the bottom 39 is first placed upon the truck 35, the position of said bottom being controlled by the stops 40, whereupon the receptacle 38 is placed upon the bottom 39. The pig-iron, scrap, coke, or other materials to be used in the cupola are introduced into the box 38, and the truck carrying said box is then transported over suitable track on the floor 2 until it reaches the platform 33, when it is pushed onto the track 34 of said platform. The platform 33 willthen be in a raised position, (shown in full lines in Fig. 1,) and the table 17 of the frame 16, as above stated, will pass in between the axles 37 and the bottom plate 39, resting upon said truck. The arms 8 and 9 have been extended so as to permit the receptacle 38 to pass between them, whereupon by turning the handwheel 15 said arms are brought together so that the outer circular portions 10 and 11 will engage and embrace the receptacle 38 beneath the flanges 38. The plunger 32 of the hydraulic cylinder 31 is then lowered, carrying with it the platform 33 and the truck 35. As the platform 33 is lowered the truck which supported the bottom plate 39 of the receptaole is withdrawn, and said bottom plate 39 then rests upon the table 17 of the frame 16. The operator then admits steam to the rear end of the cylinder 22, whereupon the rackbar 20 is advanced. As this rack-bar 2O meshes with the segmental gear 19, secured to the frame 16, a rotary movement is imparted to the frame 16, and the said frame accordingly swings around into a horizontal plane upon the shaft 6, carrying with it the bottom plate 39 and the receptacle 38, supported thereon. The arms 8 and 9 are likewise caused to move upon horizontal planes upon the shaft 6 as an axis, whereupon the receptacle 38 is swung around, entering the slot L in the receptacle, enters said receptacle, assuming the position therein indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 2. In this position the receptacle 38 is practically concentric with the cupola 3. As the arms 8 and 9 have swung around into the position indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 2, the latch-bar 28 is dropped down into a substantially vertical position, so as to lock or prevent the return of the arms 8 and 9 to their former position.

When the receptacle 38 has been thrown around to the position indicated by dotted lines on Fig. 2, the operator reverses the cylinder 22 by admitting steam to the front end thereof, whereupon the rack-bar 2O recedes and embraces the reverse movement of the segmental gear 19. This reverse movement of the gear 19 acts to bring the frame 16 to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereby the bottom plate 39 is withdrawn from the receptacle 38 and the contents of said receptacle are discharged into the cupola. Owing to the concentric position of the receptacle 38 within the cupola and the withdrawal of the bottom in this manner, the contents in said receptacle are deposited evenly over the area of the cupola, so that all parts receive an even proportion of the materials and the materials do not collect in a single pile in any one part of the cupola. Bya further movement of the segmental gear 19 the frame 16 and table 17 are brought back to their normal position, while the receptacle 38 remains in the cupola. After the contents have been discharged from the receptacle 38 the arms 8 and 9 may be grasped by a suitable device and be withdrawn from the cupola, carrying with them the receptacle 38 and be swung around to their normal position. (I ndicated by full lines in Fig. 2.) The receptacle 38 is then brought around into position over the bottom 39. By operating the hydraulic cylinder 31 the platform 33 and truck 35 are raised, and the emptied receptacle 38 is supported by the truck being lifted from the table 17. The truck may then be moved out off the platform 33 and another truck be run onto said platform with a full receptacle, the contents of which are thereupon discharged into the furnace in the same manner as before described.

By the above-described device the cupola may be charged rapidly and at the same time the materials be evenly distributed therein, so that even melting of the material is obtained and greater speed in the operation of the cupola is obtained, which is particularly advantageous where a continuous molding process is carried on.

hat we claim as our invention is 1. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a horiZontally-swinging frame adapted to support the material and to enter said opening in said cupola, and means for discharging said material from said support.

2. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a horizontally-swinging frame adapted to support the material, mechanism for swinging said frame to enter said opening in said cupola, and means for discharging said material from said support.

3. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof,ahorizontally-swingingframe, a receptacle carried bysaid frame, a movable bottom on said receptacle, said frame being adapted to enter said opening in said cupola, and means for withdrawing said movable bottom.

4. In a cupola-charging device, the combi nation of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a horizontally-swinging frame, a receptacle carried by said frame, a movable bottom in said receptacle, said frame being adapted to enter said opening in said cupola, means for Withdrawing said frame and bottom carried thereby, and means for supporting said receptable within said cupola.

5. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a horizontally-movable frame, a receptacle carried by said frame, a movable bottom on said receptacle, said frame being adapted to enter said opening in said onpola, means for withdrawing said frame and bottom carried thereby, and horizontallyswinging arms adapted to support said receptacle Within said cupola.

6. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a horizontally-movable frame, a receptacle carried by said frame, a movable bottom on said receptacle, horizontally-movable arms engaging said receptacle, mechanism for moving said frame and arms simultaneously to carry said receptacle through said opening into said cupola, and means for withdrawing said frame independently of said arms.

7. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a horizontally-movable frame, a receptable carried by said frame, a movable bottom on said receptacle, horizontally-movable arms engaging said receptacle, mechanism for moving said frame and arms simultaneously to carry said receptacle through said opening into said cupola, means for locking said arms in this position, and means for withdrawing said frame.

8. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the Walls thereof, avertical shaft, a horizontallymovable frame on said shaft, a receptacle, a movable bottom supported by said frame, horizontally-swinging arms on said shaft adapted to engage said receptacle, a circular rack on said frame, a rack-bar engaging same, mechanism for reciprocating said rack-bar, and means for locking said arms against return movement.

9. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a vertical shaft, a horizontallymovable frame on said shaft, a receptacle, a movable bottom supported by said frame,horizontally-swinging arms on said shaft adapted to engage said receptacle, a segmental gear on said frame, a rack-bar engaging same, mechanism for reciprocating said rack-bar, and means for locking said arms against return movement.

10. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a shaft, a horizontally-movable frame on said shaft, a receptacle, a movable bottom supported by said frame, horizontallyswinging arms on said shaft adapted to engage said receptacle, mechanism for moving said frame and arms toward said cupola, means for reversing said mechanism, and a dog adapted to engage said arms to prevent their return.

11. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the Walls thereof, a shaft, a horizontally-movable frame on said shaft, a receptacle, a movable bottom supported by said frame, horizontallyswinging arms on said shaft adapted to engage said receptacle, mechanism for moving said frame and arms toward said cupola, means for reversing said mechanism, and a swinging dog adapted to engage said arms to prevent their return.

12. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a shaft, a horizontally-movable frame on said shaft, a receptacle, a movable bottom supported by said frame, horizontallyswinging arms on said shaft adapted to engage said receptacle, mechanism for moving said frame and arms toward said cupola, means for reversing said mechanism, and a swinging dog adapted to engage a projection on said arms to prevent their return.

13. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a vertical shaft, a horizontallymovable frame on said shaft, a receptacle, a movable bottom supported by said frame, horizontally swinging arms on said shaft adapted to engage said receptacle, and mechanism for moving said arms to and from each other.

14. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the walls thereof, a horizontally-movable frame, a vertically-movable platform, a car adapted to rest on said platform, a receptacle on said car, and mechanism for lowering said platform whereby said receptacle is supported by said frame.

15. In a cupola-charging device, the combination of a cupola having an opening in the Walls thereof, a horizontally-movable frame, a car, a receptacle on said car and over said frame,and means for lowering said car, whereby said receptacle is supported by said frame.

In testimony whereof we, the said CHARLES R. KNAPP and VERGIL MULHOLLAND, have hereunto set our hands.

CHARLES R. KNAPP. VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

IVitnesses:

ROBERT C. ToTTEN, Gr. KREMER. 

